John Bates (Psyche)

John Bates, known on stream as Psyche, is the host and architect of The Cult of Psyche archive. He creates the container for conversations around consciousness, mythology, tarot, and occult philosophy, positioning himself as both interviewer and fellow traveler in these investigations.

Psyche demonstrates a willingness to turn the investigative lens inward, making himself subject to the same inquiries he poses to guests. In the episode centered on archaeogenetics, he engaged directly with DNA analysis as a means of understanding personal ancestry, revealing an openness to material science as a tool for self-knowledge. This approach suggests a framework in which the mystical and the empirical are not treated as opposites but as complementary modes of investigation. His heritage—traced to North-Western European roots with Celtic and Germanic influences—becomes part of the show's larger tapestry, positioning ancestral identity as a living element within the archive's exploration of consciousness and lineage.

Psyche's role as host involves creating intellectual and emotional space for inquiry while remaining transparent about his own genealogical ground. By allowing his own ancestry to become material for investigation, he models a particular kind of vulnerability and curiosity that appears central to the show's ethos.

As the host and founder, Psyche's primary relationship is with the archive itself—the structure he has built to hold multiple voices and investigations. His appearance in the DNA episode positions him as both questioner and questioned, suggesting a reciprocal dynamic with guests rather than a strictly hierarchical one. The archive is fundamentally an extension of his vision and intellectual orientation.